On a spring afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, the life of a 23-year-old Black / African American man named Choice Elliston was cut short in a burst of violence. On May 9, 2017, Elliston was a passenger in a black Saturn Ion, riding with three other individuals. What began as a simple trip took a fatal turn when a rival gang in a red sedan began pursuing them, leading to a rolling gun battle near the intersection of 30th Street and Hickman Road.
As the two cars stopped at a red light, the
situation escalated. Gunfire erupted between the vehicles. Seated in the back next to Elliston was 19-year-old Jahmar Saheim Mustin. As the rival gang members continued to fire from the parking lot of a nearby convenience store, Mustin discharged a. 38 caliber revolver five times in their direction. In the ensuing chaos, a single, fatal shot struck Elliston in the head. As their driver sped away from the scene, Elliston collapsed into Mustin’s lap. The driver proceeded to Broadlawns Medical Center, but it was too late. Mustin fled the vehicle as soon as it stopped.
The investigation into Choice Elliston’s death initially stalled, but a break in the case came months later when a man named Keyshaun Jones came forward with information. Jones told detectives that on the night of the shooting, Mustin had shown up at a friend's apartment with blood and brain matter on his clothes, admitting that Elliston had been shot. This information, coupled with other evidence, led detectives to focus on Mustin. Police analysis of Elliston’s wound revealed stippling, indicating he had been shot at very close range, and investigators concluded that Mustin was the only person in a position to have fired the fatal round.
Jahmar Mustin was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and criminal gang participation. Although he was initially charged with murder, he later entered a guilty plea to lesser charges, including two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, criminal gang participation, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In a statement to the court, Mustin expressed remorse, calling Elliston his friend and stating he never intended for him to be harmed. However, he maintained that he did not fire the specific bullet that killed him. Mustin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the events that led to the death of Choice Elliston.
